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>> this is "bbc world news america." reporting from washington, i am matt frei. at a path of discussion 6 miles wide. massive tower nader's in missouri, leaving death in its wake. the taliban's revenge after a osama bin laden statute. militants staged a deadly raid in pakistan. and in ireland, i knew native son. another iconic irish name -- the the -- obama. >> i have come home to find ' we've lost somewhere along the way -- to find the apostrophe we have lost somewhere along the

way. >> welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. it felt like the building was breathing. that is how one survivor described the moment when a massive tornado ripped through missouri last night. at it damaged more a quarter of the town and killed at least 89. that death toll may rise. we began heard -- coverage tonight with seeking stand. >> adana like none other -- a dawn like none other in joplin, missouri. it took hospitals and homes. rescuers look for signs of live in hope, more than expectation. such as the scale of what happened here. and this is what destroyed joplin. the fast-moving funnel of their

half a mile wide. with little warning, several families took cover in a corner shelter. [screaming] at this point, everything goes dark. but we can hear their fear. >> i love you. >> their prayers were answered. all survived. >> the next minute, boy, the world just turned upside down. >> it felt like an earthquake shaking the whole place up. >> when it finally stopped, this is the apocalyptic aftermath. power lines down. gas leaking. parts of the town on fire. with 2000 buildings flattened, the injured were treated in the open air. the air ambulances were permanently grounded. by phone from ireland, the president pledged disaster

funds. and this is a fort the human cost is accounted. today, the elements punished joplin further. local people returned to pick through the debris of family life. >> what ever we can find my mom and my grandmother and my aunt kathleen. >> this is one of dozens of twisters that have ripped through the heart of america over the weekend. 2011 is the deadliest year for tornadoes in six decades and the power of nature will live with those who survived. bbc news, washington. >> if you would still like to see his report, the deadly twister does not discriminate between homes and churches. we have this report. >> it is great to talk to you.

you were inside the school at the moment. how bad is the damage? >> it is all devastation during the school is completely ruined. it will have to be destroyed, what is left of that. yet we have some folks in there going through right now the office area, that kind of thing. we are going to have to have some earthmovers to get to some things we might be able to salvage. >> what will it take to rebuild your community? but it will take an major -- >> it will be a major problem for years to come. all around our school, every kind of business you can think of is lost. the houses -- it is just tremendous loss. the mjor resellers and

businesses are gone. they are devastated. like the home depot which as lumber and hardware -- which has a lumber and hardware is completely gone completely gone. not only have we lost a lot of homes, we lost a lot of the businesses and places to help rebuild the community. so, it is going to be something else. >> thank you very much indeed for talking to us and good luck. >> ok. thank you, sir. >> concerned mounting about pakistan's nuclear arsenal. the naval base was attacked and held for 15 hours by six heavily armed taliban gunman to avenge the death of osama bin laden. orla guerin has the story. >> the militants hit hard. fires blazed at the naval base as security forces battled the

gunmen right through the night. reinforcements were rushed in, but the damage was already done. two aircraft worth $20 million each, destroyed. the pakistan's taliban said this audacious strike was revenge, once again, for the killing of osama bin laden. eventually the security forces emerged victorious, but it had taken them at least 15 hours to defeat six militants, two of which are believed to have escaped. still keeping vigil outside -- and man who had not heard from his brother, unable officer. -- a naval officer. >> his kids are waiting. his mother is waiting. our family is really worried. we can only pray now. >> what happened is a major

embarrassment for pakistan's military. there is speculation the attackers must of had inside help. six and american contractors run the base, but they were not hurt. >> while this is an obvious target, security sure that and sites. personnel should have been on alert. instead, heavily armed militants were able to penetrate the base and caused havoc. now the authorities have a lot of questions to answer. the explanation from the interior minister -- begun in fund back late in. -- the gunmen found about way in. >> they used very tactically the place where the two cameras were not tracking. and then there are 30 degrees and where the cameras cannot see. >> but why was there a blind

spot for the cameras in a place like this? and another question on the minds of many -- where will the next attack date? orla guerin, bbc news, karachi. >> president obama has wrapped up talks with the irish prime minister. he has also retraced his irish roots, up visiting a tiny village called moneygall where his great-great-great grandfather once lived. >> back home, president obama ancestors left ireland 160 years ago today, he returned to the village of moneygall in the heart of the irish countryside. for a president seeking reelection, what better way to please the 37 million irish

americans back home? there was even time for a family hug, with the president's eighth cousin and you still lives here. -- who still lives there. and like many family reunions, this one ended up in the pub. >> i just want you to know, the president face is white. -- the president's pays his way. >> there was as serious situation. mr. obama said the success of the peace process set an example for the rest of the world. >> to see the mutual warmth and healing that took place, it is

what we call a ripple of hope. >> the biggest event, an open- air rally this evening. last week, the queen was here. today, president obama. will these high-profile visits make any difference to ireland? >> it is good. we are not talking about recession your regrets it puts us back on the map. we are the fighting irish we will fight. we will survive. >> this cadillac may be bomb- proof the, -- bomb-proof, but he was moving in a different car. i huge crowd has gathered steam here barack obama in a time of economic hardship. he has given the people hear something to smile about. >> mark mardell is traveling with president obama. i spoke to him from dublin. >> there are some great moments

today. so, when does this trip actually start and what is it going to be about? >> as you say, there is a tremendous sense of fun and exuberance today. created a mood for the whole trip. that we have seen the presidency a lot of troubles recently. this is back to president obama superstar. i think that will continue a degree when he goes to buckingham palace. as you say, there's lots of serious business to do. yet he and david cameron will be talking about the details, the granular levels, of the talks about the taliban and how much they should be allowed to settle the peace in afghanistan. but british and american troops

can come home. >> it is still a rather volatile global economy. >> i think that will be seen in the g-8 meeting in france and will talk about that. they are -- there are various commentators st., can he put a good word in, as it were, for the irish economy with the european union? a the there is of feeling for the white house, that is not our business. we are not going to do that. anything that can be done it is going to be a subject for discussion. this is one of the areas where he and david cameron money- making much of a statement, probably do not agree, even though they get along well. at well president obama is talking about spending cuts, he seems to be philosophically behind the idea of stimulating the economy. >> mark mardell, in dublin.

thank you very much indeed. >> other news from around the world. guantanamo bay has been set ablaze since being captured by troops in sudan. the sudanese armed forces were responsible for ensuring law and order. about 20,000 residents have fled. the trial of a man charged with helping it you find locations for the mumbai attacks as begun trial in chicago. the trial is likely to shed light on the alleged link between militant groups and the pakastani secret service. the remains of one president have been exhumed to determine his means of death. he was up in santiago.

the troops of pinochet moved into the palace, which brought the generals to power. here we owe a -- here we go again. the forecast says the ash cloud from ireland is likely to reach scotland overnight. remember last year. our science correspondent has more. >> it is happening all over again. a vast tower of ash in the skies over iceland. and the wind is blowing the stub our way. is not the same volcano as last year, but the ashes are being blasted a higher. so, this evening, authorities are warning that flights will

be disrupted. >> some parts of the u.k. will not disruption as early as tomorrow. there is some possibility that by the end of the week -- it is very variable. we have low pressure present. that could change. >> once again, all eyes on iceland. this is where the ash cloud has moved since saturday. and it will head over scotland during the night tonight. it is spreading out far more than last year. the problem is the clouds are heavier than last year, which means they should drop into the ocean more quickly. in any event, airline authorities have agreed on new rules. planes can fly in this amount of ash -- alleged concentration. there should be less disruption

and last time flights in iceland or grounded over the weekend, while here in britain, ministers hope to avoid the total closure of last year. >> and you can characterize what happened last time as a one size fits all approach. this time, we will be able to define much more precisely the hotspots where it is better not to operate and other areas where safe operations can take place. >> the first british airports to be affected are in scotland. aberdeen was already afflicted with strong winds. >> it is like last year. >> i will be flying back. in a couple days behind. >> in iceland, ash is everywhere. i imagine trying to keep it out of your car. this direction is the largest

the country has seen for 150 years, and it is still going strong. >> and this volcano -- the one last year was called -- i think. anyway. you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come -- teaching children some of the old words and ways. spain has started licking its political winds after the public have punished the prime minister and local and regional elections. >> celebrating an historical wind. news of the resounding victory came in. as well as winning by a record margin, they snatched key socialist strongholds. so, it was a subdued concession

of defeat on election night. he called the results of a major setback. he characterized it as an expression of discontent. the papers were unanimous. a crushing defeat. spain was concerned with the recession, austerity, and job losses. it is not the kind of change these protesters month but up. they claim their politicians are ruled by the financial markets. they are camping out, demanding more say in their election. >> that we are here to stop people discussing the issues. furthermore, inspiring people to think about their needs, their future, and managing to organize

themselves, really without the help of any outside institution -- >> despite some much obvious this consent, there will not be an early general election. the government still has work to do. reforms to lift the country out of crisis. the easiness. madrid. >> many public schools and america are facing severe budget cuts. but at least one charter school in florida can afford a laptop and ipod for every student, class's in cooking, and obscure foreign languages. what is the secret? gambling. they are financed by a casino

empire. we have this report. >> [speaking foreign language] >> lessons in a language spoken fluently by only a handful of people. these children are being taught greek. before it was built, the ancient seminole language was in danger of being lost. >> degeneration i was in, not many of us speak our language, like my father's generation does. we are trying very hard to read we almost lost it that. the push to preserve that is really strong now. >> we are going to have two pans

of strawberry going. >> that means lessons in traditional skills are part of the curriculum. this is not the school day starts -- learning things their parents at never been taught. >> it is like, wow,, you can learn it. and you are learning it. the is being submersed in its every day is the only way. >> the history -- when they bring that home, i like to read that stuff. i know some things, but i do not know everything. >> the technology that we have, the document cameras that are in every classroom -- >> it is not just the past that is taught here. every student has their own laptop and ipod. and the lessons of focus and just as much on the modern world as the tried history. >> i feel great coming out here

every day. it is a dream for our teachers. they are enjoying what they are doing. they are having fun. this enjoyment goes to the children and they see that high- energy and they have it as well. >> funds come from the seminole tribe gambling empire. their businesses around the world and their revenue is over $1 billion a year. the resources here are formidable. for every 10 people, there is one teacher, and every teacher as a teaching assistant. more than anything else, this place is about the preservation of the way of life. with this much commitment, it seems that way of life is, for now, secure. bbc news, on the bright room reservation in central florida. >> to the vatican transportation -- did you know that the pope has his own train station and

railway line? there were built in the 1930's and little used in recent years. for a limited time, passengers can buy a ticket to ride on the pontiff's train. our correspondent, duncan kennedy, was on board. >> home to the shortest national railway. for the first time, the pope's trained entry station are open to the public. the vatican completed the railway in 1933. great steel doors were built to separated from the italian network. door's still in place to that. all to mark the sixth anniversary of a catholic charity that once distributed

aid by railway. ofthere's also that romance billing out to respond and you doing -- to go out and respond and do it out of the goodness of people start. >> the vatican line only stretches 300 meters. >> at the station and the train only rarely used. they were only used one or two occasions on the past. not only is it this especially for charity, it is a special experience for passengers allowed to make this journey. each of those guests paid around $80 for the trip that carried them to tuscany. >> it is wonderful. what an experience, eh? >> de grandeur of the carriage was one more treats enjoyed by passengers.

train enthusiasts, vatican watchers, and those with charitable mind. bbc news, on board the pope's train. >> not a bad way to travel, is it? anyway, that just about does it for tonight's program. you can always find the very latest on what we are covering on our website -- bbc.com. you can give you our facebook page. and you can follow me and my colleagues on twitter. @mattfrei. very simple. we do hope he will come and see us again. goodbye. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the

top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news america" was presented by kcet los angeles.